Concealable trouser support



Feb. 2, 1965 J. E. JOHNSON 3,167,786

CONCEALABLE TROUSER SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20. 1962 Feb. 2, 1965 J. E. JOHNSON 3,167,786

CONCEALABLE TROUSER SUPPORT Filed Dec. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvroze. JEROME E JOHNSON A TTOHNE X 3,167,786 CONCEALABLE TROUSER SUPPORT Jerome E. Johnson, Pascaclr Road, Woodcliff Lake, NJ.

Filed Dec. 20, 1962,'Ser. No. 246,118

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-32'7) My invention is directed toward trouser supports of the suspender type and more particularly relates to supports of this type that can be worn under a shirt and thus concealed from view.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved type of concealable trouser support wherein the when the support is in use and is pulled from the front,

the support will not ride up the back of the wearer.

Still another object if my invention is to provide a new and improved type of concealable trouser support utilizing two front straps having clasps which are engageable with corresponding mating clasps secured to the top of the trousers, the clasps being'so constructed as to permit the wearers shirt (which is clamped between the support and trouser clasps) to be manually moved freely in any direction after the trouser-and support clasps are engaged.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved type of trouser support utilizing two front straps having clasps which are engageable with corresponding mating clasps secured to the top of the trousers wherein the wearer can engage or disengage the support and trouser clasps without removing a suit coat (should he be wearing same) and wherein upon disengagement of the clasps, the wearer can raise or lower his trousers at will.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved concealable trouser support of the character indicated wherein the support and trouser clasps can be disengaged and reengaged from the outside of the shirt without reaching thereunder and without'producing any movement of the shirt out of a previously selected position and wherein the shirt after clasping will not by itself ride out of position whereby the shirt can be held in any wanted position.

Yet a further object is to provide a new and improved type of concealable trouser support of the character indicated which can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

These and other objects of my invention will either be explained or will become apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with the principles of my invention, my concealable trouser support comprises first and second vertical shoulder loops adapted to be supported by the left and right shoulders of the wearer and to be worn under the shirt. First and second verticalfront straps extend downward from the first and second loops respectively, and terminate at first and second rigid support clasps respectively. Each support clasp is registrable with a corresponding one of first and second trouser clasps secured to the inner front portion of the top of the trousers. Each support clasp is readily engageable and disengageable from the corresponding trouser clasp; when a support clasp engages the corresponding trouser clasp, a portion of the wearers shirt-is held in position therebetween. The support and trouser clasps can each include a magnet or can be so constructed as to permit the shirt to be manually moved freely in any direction after 3 l h? ,ESti Patented Feb. 2,19%5

either or both pairs of clasps have been engaged. Moreover, either or both pairs of clasps can be disengaged and reengaged without producing any movement of the shirt out of position.

In order to provide great wearing comfort and at the same time prevent the shirt from being damaged in any way, the trouser pull is to be exerted through the sup- 7 port to the shoulders of the wearer with substantially no pull being exerted on the shirt to cause crumpling or damage thereto. To this end, the rear top portion of both of the first and second loops are joined in two places by an X-shaped support member extending in a generally horizontal direction therebetween.

Depending upon the size of the wearers shoulders and waist, it is sometimes advisable to provide a horizontal member extending between and secured to both of the first and second front straps. In addition when the user wears extremely loose fitting trousers, a means for supporting the trousers at the rear can be incorporated into my trouser support.

The trouser clasps can be permanently atlixed to the trousers, but preferably are designed to be readily secured to or removed from the trousers.

Illustrative embodiments of my invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my concealable trouser support in operative use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my trouser support somewhat modified from the form shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one form of a trouser clasp as employed in my invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a support clasp which cooperates with the trouser clasp of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view showing the clasp of FIGS. 3 and 4 engaged with a portion of the wearers shirt held in position therebetween;

' FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan and side views respectively of a somewhat modified form of the trouser clasp of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views respectively of another form of mating trouser'and support clasps;

FIG. 10 is a side cross sectionalview showing the clasps of FIGS. 8 and 9 in engaged relationship;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 4 in open position;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 4 in closed position;

FIG. 13 is a side cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing somewhat modified clasps; and

FIG. 14 is a side cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 13 but showing somewhat modified clasps.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a person is shown wearing a shirt '12 and a pair of trousers 14. A concealable trouser support is worn underneath the shirt. The support comprises a first vertical loop 16 fitting about the left shoulder of the wearer and a second vertical loop 18 fitting about the right shoulder of the wearer.

A first vertical front strap 26 extends downward behind the front of the shirt and is secured to the bottom of loop 16. Similarly a second vertical front strap 22 extends downward behind the front of the shirt and is secured to the bottom of loop 18. Conventional buckles or other means 24 carried by each of straps 20 and 22 permit the length of each of these straps to be individually adjusted.

Separate rigid support clasps 26 are secured to the bottom of each of straps Z0 and 22.

An X-shaped strap member 28 extends between loops 16 and 18 and is secured thereto in the top rear regions thereof whereby this member 28 rests in the rear top portion of the wearers shoulders. Straps 2t) and 22 can the inside of the top of the trousers. ward from the center of element ltlxis a central support spans both vertical strips and is secured thereto.

upperhorizontally extending L-shaped member 7t! is sewhich extends downward from the X shaped strap mem ber 18." V

In the arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 2, each of vertical strapsltl, 22 and 34 terminate ina rigid support clasp 26 (shown in block'form in FIGS. 1 and 2) which is engageable with a corresponding trouser clasp secured to the.

inside of the trousers.

FIG. 3 shows one such trouser clasp; It comprises a flat sheet-like element 40 formed, for example, of plastic and having a pluralityof peripherally placed holes 42 through which thread can pass to secure elementdt) -to Projecting out- 44 in the form of a T. The top arm 46 of the support extends horizontally away from and parallelto element 40. The arm 46 has a central bore through which a shaft extends. Two cylinders 48 having central bores which accommodate the shaft are secured to opposite ends to form a horizontal memberdtl which is free to rotate within arm 45. Alternatively, the trouser clasp can bemodified as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 where the element 46 can be bent into a U-shape to fit over the top edge of the trousers whereby the support can be easily secured to and removed from the trousers'by tightening .or loosening screw 50. V

The mating support clasp as shown in FIG. 4 can comprise a metal plate 60 again provided with peripheral holes 62 through which thread can pass to secure the plate to the bottom of the appropriate vertical strap.

Secured to plate 6b are two vertical metal strips 64 each supporting an inverted U-shaped guard 66 secured at both ends of the U to the corresponding strip, each guard being perpendicular to the appropriate strip. Both guards are vertically parallel. a

A lower horizontally extending L-shaped member 68 cured to a second plate 72 which can be moved between strips 64 to a first position at which'rnembers 68 and '70 are so Widely separated that the horizontal member 49 formed by the two cylinders 48 of. the trouser clasp cannot be held therebetween. This position is that in which the trouser and support clasps are disengageable from each other as shown in FIG. 11.

Plate 72 can also be moved between strips 64 to a second position at which the members 63 and 70 are so closely separated that the horizontal member 49 formed by the two cylinders 48 of the trouser clasp can be held in place by members 68 and 7t and guards 46 whereby this horizontal member is free to rotate but cannot be removed. This second position is that in which the trouser and support clasps are engaged as shown in FIG. 12.

This engaged position with the shirt held in position by the engaged clasps is shown in FIG. 5. Note that the shirt position can'be adjusted by the user merely by pulling the shirt to any position desired since the horizontal member 49 is free not only to rotate as the shirt is pulled but can also slide back and forth between the guards 66 and toward and away from plate 69.

The engageable and disengageable positions previously described are obtained as shown in FIG. 4. A horizontal mctal strip 74 spanning the upper ends of both vertical strips 64 has a horizontal slot 76 which accommodates the vertical shaft '78 extending between and secured to a top control button 80 and a smaller bottom button 82. Button 82 rides in a contoured slot 84 in plate '72. When the control button 80 is slid to the extreme right position inslot 76 (as shown) button 82 is positioned at the extreme :rightin contoured slot 84; this is the engageable position; When button 80 is'slid to the extreme left position in slot 76, button 82 is positioned at the extreme left in contoured slot 84; this is the disengage-able position.

Another type of trouserrsupport clasp arrangement is shown in FIGS. 81 0. Thetrouser clasp which as before can be removably attached and detached. from'the trousers can comprise a U-shaped element 42; having two oppositely disposed vertical brackets 99 which together hold in place a magnet plate 92 (formed forexample of 'Alnico). The support claspcancomprise a plate 190 having two oppositely disposed horizontal brackets N2 which togethe-rihold in place a second magnet plate 104.

By placing plates?!) and 1M together (with the shirt subtended therebetvween), thefclasps canbe engaged by magnetic force: Note that the combination ofhorizcntal brackets 192. andvertical brackets 90*preve-nts plates 90 and 104- from relative sliding movement. This action is required, because the vwearers movementscould otherwise produce such a sliding movement which could inadvertently disengage the magnet clasps:

FIG. 13 shows in cross section a firstmodification ofv the clasps shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 1l-12. In FIG. vl3, the horizontal member'wa secured/to the U-shaped element 40 does not rotate and in cross section has the shape of an L. The support clasp inFlG. 13 is con- Howby a straight horizontal member 7011.. [This change in shape is necessary because of the difference in shape between member-dtof FIG. 3 and member 49:: of'FIG. 13.]

A slight'modification of FIG. 13, is shown in FIG. 14 where the L-shaped horizontal member 49b-points upward in place of the downward pointing horizontal member 49a of PEG. 13. Button controls the support clasp as before. However,.in this case 'L'-shaped member 68 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is replaced by a straight horizontal member 6811. 7

When desired, my concealable trouser support, instead of-being a separate unit, can be secured to orembodied in either a shirt or vest.

While I have shown and pointed out my invention as applied above, it willibe apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can .be made within the scope and sphere of my invention.

What is claimed is? V V 1. A conceal-able trouser support adapted to be worn by a person wearing trousers and a skirt, the skirt having its bottom exlges tucked inside the waist band of the trousers, saidsupport comprising a structure to be worn underneath the shirt and including first-and second vertical loops, each loop being adapted to fit about a corresponding shoulder of the wearer, first andsecond vertical straps, each strap depending downward from a corresponding one of said loops toward said waist band, fir t and second support clasps, each support clasp being respectively secured to the bottom end of the corresponding strap, and a strap member being adapted to extend generally horizontally across the back of the wearer between the rear top portions of both loops and being secured to both loops; and firs-t and second trouser cl asps being adapted to be secured to said waist band, each trouser clasp beingengag able with a corresponding support clasp in .such manner that the shirt is held between the. trouser and support clasps,

each pair of engaged clasps having cooperating male and female clasp members which whenengaged exhibit a relative clearance therebetween. at least equal to the thickness of said shirt to permit the wearer; after clasp engagement, to move portions of the shirt with respect to said trousers to adjust the fit of the shirt without causing clasp disengagement.

2. A conceal-able trouser support adapted to be worn by a person wearing trousers and a shirt, the shirt having its bottom edges tucked inside the waistband of the trousers, said support'comprising :a structure to be worn underneath the shirt and including first and second verticfl loops, each loopbeing adapted to fit about a corresponding shoulder of the wearer, first and second vertical straps, each strap depending downward iii-om a corresponding one of said loops toward said waist band, first and second support clasps, each clasp being respectively secured to the bottom end of the corresponding strap, each support clasp i can be fitted loosely, each trouser clasp having means for moving the first and second members into alternative open and closed positions, the separation between said first second members in the open position being larger than the diameter of one of said cylinder-like members the separation between said first and second members in the closed position being smaller than said diameter, each trouser clasp being engagable with a corresponding support clasp when the cylinder-like member of the trouser clasp is inserted in said region of said corresponding support clasp and the firstand second members of said corresponding support clasp are in the closed position, the shirt adapted to be held between the engaged trouseosupp o-rt clasps in such manner that portions of the shirt can be moved freely with respect to the trousers to adjust the fit of the shirt without disturbing the engagement of said engaged clasps.

3. A supporttrouser clasp arrangement for detachably securing first and second articles of apparel together and and a trouser clasp detachably securedt-o the second article and having a plate-like element carrying first and second parallel spaced apart members spaced apart from said element and parallel thereto, the space between said first and second members and said element defining a region in which said cylinder-like member can fit loosely, each trouser clasp having means for moving the first and second members into alternative open [and closed positions, the separation between said first and second members when in he open position being larger than the diameter of said cylinder-like member, the separation between said first and second members when in the closed position being smaller than said diameter whereby when said cylinderlike member is inserted in said region and said first and second members are in the closed position, said cylinderiike member can be moved in said region but cannot escape therefrom. a

References Cited by the Examiner JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A CONCEALABLE TROUSER SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE WORN BY A PERSON WEARING TROUSERS AND A SKIRT, THE SKIRT HAVING ITS BOTTOM EDGES TUCKED INSIDE THE WAIST BAND OF THE TROUSERS, SAID SUPPORT COMPRISING A STRUCTURE TO BE WORN UNDERNEATH THE SHIRT AND INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND VERTICAL LOOPS, EACH LOOP BEING ADAPTED TO FIT ABOUT A CORRESPONDING SHOULDER OF THE WEARER, FIRST AND SECOND VERTICAL STRAPS, EACH STRAP DEPENDING DOWNWARD FROM A CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID LOOPS TOWARD SAID WAIST BAND, FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT CLASPS, EACH SUPPORT CLASP BEING RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO THE BOTTOM END OF THE CORRESPONDING STRAP, AND A STRAP MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE BACK OF THE WEARER BETWEEN THE REAR TOP PORTIONS OF BOTH LOOPS AND BEING SECURED TO BOTH LOOPS; AND FIRST AND SECOND TROUSER CLASPS BEING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID WAIST BAND, EACH TROUSER CLASP BEING ENGAGABLE WITH A CORRESPONDING SUPPORT CLASP IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE SHIRT IS HELD BETWEEN THE TROUSER AND SUPPORT CLASP, EACH PAIR OF ENGAGED CLASPS HAVING COOPERATING MALE AND FEMALE CLASP MEMBERS WHICH WHEN ENGAGED EXHIBIT A RELATIVE CLEARANCE THEREBETWEEN AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID SHIRT TO PERMIT THE WEARER, AFTER CLASP ENGAGEMENT, TO MOVE PORTIONS OF THE SHIRT WITH RESPECT TO SAID TROUSERS TO ADJUST THE FIT OF THE SHIRT WITHOUT CAUSING CLASP DISENGAGEMENT. 